How Does The IQ Test Work?

The IQ test consists of a number of tasks measuring various measures of intelligence including short-term memory, analytical thinking, mathematical ability and spatial recognition. Like all IQ tests it does not attempt to measure the amount of information you have learned but rather your capacity to learn. Once you've provided your answers we compare your results to people of your age and then we provide a normalized score. Normalized scoring can be difficult to understand for those without a background in statistics. It's best to think of your score as a number which represents your IQ compared to others, not as a measure of intelligence. Normalizing means the average IQ score is 100. How far you fall either side of this number determines roughly how unusual your IQ is. Only 2% of the population have an IQ greater than 128. Half of the population have an IQ score between 85 and 115.

How can I improve my IQ?

Until recently most research has indicated that our IQ remains relatively fixed throughout our lives.
One aspect IQ tests measure is what's known as fluid intelligence. It describes your ability to solve abstract problems which do not depend upon skills and knowledge you've learned in the past. This part of your intelligence was always believed
to be fixed. No matter the amount of learning or training you undertook your fluid intelligence remained constant for the duration of your life. Like many aspects of cognition we're being forced to rethink this model.
Research by Susanne M. Jaeggi and Martin Buschkuehl is now indicating that with specific and targeted training of working memory we may be able to improve our fluid intelligence.

Train your working memory

You'll stand the most hope of improving your IQ if you manage to improve your working memory. In order to solve problems we hold information in our working memory, a greater amount of information means you'll improve your chances of solving the problem. The benefits extend far beyond a higher IQ.

Relax

Many problems require creativity which is improved when we're in a relaxed state

Challenge yourself

A brain which is challenged in a wide variety of tasks forms denser connections. Like muscle we can improve our minds with a wide range of training.

Don't become fixated on your IQ

As we've mentioned above your IQ score will not determine the remainder of your life, other skills which can be learned are vitally important.

Are you a genius?

Dr David Wechsler developed a means of classifying IQ scores called the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales (WAIS). The scales are the most widely used and accepted means of classifying intelligence and are
regularly updated to account for the FLYNN effect. Currently in its 4th revision the scales are presented below:

Does IQ predict success?

This is a question researchers and anyone who has completed an IQ test will ask themselves. What does my IQ score mean? There have been quite a number of studies and
meta analysis designed to answer this very question and the answer is a little involved. An IQ test does provide an interesting means of assessing your ability to reason,
creativity, verbal and other types of intelligence but it does not account for all factors which determine 'success'. As a predictor of success it is important to define 'success'.
In jobs requiring the types of intelligence IQ tests attempt to measure a detailed meta analysis by Dr Frank Schmidt has
proven IQ to be a reliable predictor of job performance.

Dr Wechsler stressed the importance of measuring a person's ability to apply their intelligence, not simply their intellectual capacity. What use after all is a high IQ if it's not applied to meaningful problems?
In a 2005 study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania researchers discovered that self discipline outperformed IQ in predicting the final grades of year 8 students.
It seems that a minimum level of IQ is required for many tasks but beyond a certain point other factors such as your ability to communicate, maintain motivation and direction are also important in determining success. After you've taken an IQ test
head on over to our personality quiz to gain deeper insight into your potential.